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Despite the turbulent year Yemen experienced in 2012, a group of Yemenis worked very hard to end the year on a positive note. The TEDxSanaa team succeeded in staging, for the first time in Yemen, an inspirational TEDx event in Sanaa on December 31 under the befitting slogan “Inspiring Hope.”

‏@ShathaAlHarazi: Although I was awarded an important international award last June, I say the best thing happened to me in 2012 is hosting #TEDxSanaa #Yemen

The speakers selected were creative and successful Yemeni personalities from different backgrounds, ages and in various fields (business, media, medicine, science and technology) who inspired the audience with their creativity, determination, innovative ideas, success stories and motivational presentations.
The event was live streamed and divided into four sections, allowing for breaks and a variety of artistic performances in between. The event started with a video message from Chris Anderson TED's Curator to TedxSanaa, who was amazed and exited that a TEDx event was held in Yemen and wished the team good luck. Video messages by Yemeni talents (Dr. Hilal Lashual, Dr. Nasser Zawiya, Dr. Manahel Thabet, Dr. Ayoub Al-Hammadi, Dr. Elham Manea, Mrs. Zahra Al-Harazi) who could not be there were also played on a large screen during the event.

What a great conference @TEDxSanaa, inspired hope, overcoming obstacles, creativity, the future to become
I can't say enough about this great event :)
Thanks for the organizers, speakers, attendees
You made the new year better ♥

She also posted a photo album of the organizers and speakers behind the scene in TedxSanaa.

Sara Al-zawqari proudly tweeted:

‏@Sous_AlZ: #tedxsanaa was the best way to end the year! Amazing, diversified & Inspiring! Couldn't be more proud http://instagr.am/p/T6S6R_NV15/

Kudos to the TEDxSanaa organizers, presenter and all the inspirational speakers for this huge success. The event was just a sample of a promising Yemen, full of hope and people with dreams who have the potential and the perseverance to make them happen. The year in Yemen finally ended, thanks to TedxSanaa, with the hope of a better and brighter Yemen.

This is a storify of some of the tweets posted on Twitter during the event and after.
All the videos of the speakers in the event will be uploaded on TEDxSanaa's Youtube channel.